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Things didn’t exactly go the way the Steelers hoped when they hosted the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day. The third loss in a row wasn’t an easy pill to swallow. The defense was porous in the mid and deep backfield. The offense also struggled to deliver. The Steelers offense did manage to get into the end zone in a way that hasn’t happened since October 20 against the New York Jets.
Pittsburgh couldn’t get much offense going after an early rushing touchdown by Jaylen Warren – called back due to penalty – was followed by a rare Russell Wilson throw was intercepted. In the final seconds of the 1st quarter, the Steelers started a drive that went for 72 yards on 11 plays that was capped by a touchdown in the opening minutes of the second quarter.
The drive started with a run and ended with the same. On 1st & 10 at the PIT 28, Najee Harris took the ball around the left end for a 4-yard gain to end the quarter. George Pickens then caught a short pass and took it to the 39 before being pushed out of bounds.
Wilson began hitting short, quick passes to get the tempo raised. Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth caught passes for 8 and 15 yards, respectively. Jaylen Warren handled the rushing duties, his longest run went for 11 yards in the series.
On 2nd & Goal at the KC 1, Spencer Anderson reported as eligible. With the extra blocker, Wilson took the snap under center with two backs in the “I” behind him. As Wilson faked the handoff, Issac Seumalo pulled from the guard spot around the left end while the defense surged toward the misdirection to the right. With both receiving targets covered, Wilson sprinted, stretched, and hit the left pylon just before his knee touched the turf, scoring with a keeper.
.@DangeRussWilson runs it in for six 💪
📺: #KCvsPIT on @Netflix pic.twitter.com/whzxEpn58a
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 25, 2024
It wasn’t fancy, but it worked. Wilson hasn’t been as mobile this season as he was in years past, but the touchdown and successful Chris Boswell PAT made the score 13-7 in favor of the Chiefs; a manageable spot for the Steelers to work from.
Wilson and the offense would have no such luck the remainder of the game. As they failed to keep up with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense, the Steelers defense floundered, creating a sense of disappoinment for fans hoping for a Christmas miracle.
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